Yet another blog on Hermetics, mostly from a Golden Dawn-based perspective. Also, thoughts on philosophy, exoteric religion, and skepticism.

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Learning the Tarot: Basic Meanings (Minor Arcana)

I'm mostly posting this here for my own reference purposes. Meanings for cards 2-10 are taken from the Golden Dawn Magical Tarot.

Suit of Wands (Fire/Yod)

Creation

Dominion

Established Strength

Perfected Work

Strife

Victory

Valor

Swiftness

Great Strength

Oppression

Suit of Cups (Water/Heh)

Preservation

Love

Abundance

Blended Pleasure

Loss in Pleasure

Pleasure

Illusionary Success

Abandoned Success

Material Happiness

Perfected Success

Suit of Swords (Air/Vav)

Destruction

Peace Restored

Sorrow

Rest from Strife

Defeat

Earned Success

Unstable Effort

Shortened Force

Despair and Cruelty

Ruin

Suit of Pentacles (Earth/Heh-final)

Redemption

Harmonious Change

Material Works

Earthly Power

Material Trouble

Material Success

Success Unfulfilled

Prudence

Material Gain

Wealth

My quick-and-dirty meanings for the Aces are inspired by a passage from Liber I:

7. With the Wand createth He.
8. With the Cup preserveth He.
9. With the Dagger destroyeth He.
10. With the Coin redeemeth He.

(While typing up this post, I just noticed the linking of the line number for each of the weapons, with that of the appropriate Sephira. Seems Crowley did indeed have the Qabala ingrained as part of his psyche.)